From Our Lagos Correspondent
Seafarers’ have continued to express their frustration for over one and half years now over the non issuance of “Seafarers ‘Discharge Book “, by personnel of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Safety Department. The seafarers’ alleged that personnel of NIMASA has refused to give reasons for the deliberate delay in the issuance the document to seamen, even as they alleged that monies have continued to exchange hands before some privileged few were able obtain the document.
The affected seafarers’ lamented that the non -availability of the discharge book has affected their job placement onboard vessels as this a major requirement in keeping with the Cabotage Act. The seamen allege that personnel of the apex Maritime regulatory agency NIMASA are demanding illegal sum of N150,000 from any seaman interested to collect the documents from the back door. They insist that non issuance of the Seafarers’ Discharge Books has created mass job losses for seamen, while the regulatory authorities are not forthcoming with reasons behind the delay.
Speaking on the development on Monday 4th December, 2023 in Lagos, former President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Engr Matthew Alalade lamented that delay in the issuance of the documents have continued to render Nigerian seamen useless as, according to him, the seafarers’ cannot get job placement onboard ships without the all important document.
Alalade who expressed dissatisfaction over the bureaucratic nature of NIMASA and attitude of their staff, affirmed that over 2000 seafarers are waiting endlessly for the renewal of their discharge book adding that the number may likely increase before the end of the year if the management of the Bashir Jamoh led NIMASA fails to address the issue.
Alalade said the Safety Department of NIMASA are yet to give cogent reasons behind the delay urging management of NIMASA to save the souls of Nigerian seafarers. He said “We are talking about the Cabotage act and our seafarers’ are being debarred from job placement because of this same discharge book. Issuance of discharge book in other maritime nations take 24 hours for the seamen to get theirs but in Nigeria the case is not the same”.
Speaking further, he said “This situation in Nigeria is pathetic and from all indications Indians and Philippines seafarers’ operating in our nation’s territorial waters are engaged regularly but in Nigeria , the regulatory agency is yet to process or the document and funny enough no reasons are given by NIMASA.”, he explained.
Similarly, the Chairman , Shipping Branch, NMNOWTSSA, Captain Saliu Adetayo Awonuga who corroborated Alalade views, further accused personnel of the Security unit at NIMASA of deliberately frustrating the issuance process. According to him, the personnel at NIMASA are giving flimsy excuses thus attributing delays to the equipment producing the document. He noted that the document is very important for the sustainability of job placement for seafarers in Nigeria adding that seamen ‘are languishing in pain.
Meanwhile, a staff of NIMASA who crave anonymity told our correspondent that the documents are ready and available but management would want to launch it officially. The NIMASA official at the Marine Road Bureau, added that management will unveil the document soon.
